Home Market Releases for July 7th, 2015

July 8th, 2015

It's a slow week, which should come as no surprise. There are no major releases and even among the smaller releases, there are few that are must haves. As far as Pick of the Week contenders go, Dude Bro Party Massacre 3 is the best. It is the Pick of the Week, but you can only get it on the Official Site. I think it is worth the price for the Superfan Edition, but I also backed the Kickstarter at the Blu-ray level, so my judgment is not to be trusted.

5 Flights Up - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-rayVideo on Demand
A limited release with a good cast, but mixed reviews. Even so, it earned $1 million in limited release, which is better than expected. There are no extras on the DVD or the Blu-ray, so the film is strictly a rental.

'71 - Buy from Amazon: DVDVideo on Demand
I am hoping to get a screener for this release, but it is late. The reviews are 97% positive, which is amazing. I'm looking forward to seeing it, if it arrives.

Bitten: Complete Second Season - Buy from Amazon: DVDVideo on Demand
A weak summer show about werewolves. I think "guilty pleasure" is a good term for this show, but there are too many similar shows out there, so even fans will have plenty of options.

The Drop Box - Buy from Amazon: DVDVideo on Demand
A documentary about abandoned babies in South Korea and the man who tried to help as many as he could. There are only two reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, but they are both positive. On the other hand, if the next review is negative, the reviews would go from amazing to just okay. Maybe try it as a VOD rental first.

Dude Bro Party Massacre 3 - Buy Direct Video on Demand
One of the greatest movies ever made... I hope. There's only one review on Rotten Tomatoes, but like the other reviews from smaller sites I've read, it is positive. I'm hoping to get a screener, but it is late. In the meantime, you can buy the film direct from the site.

The Encore of Tony Duran - Buy from Amazon: DVDVideo on Demand
One of four new releases that arrived on my desk unannounced and that will be turned into prizes in a couple of weeks. I'd like to talk about it, but there are no reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.

First Peoples - Buy from Amazon: DVD
A PBS documentary TV series about the earliest human who traveled and populated the world. The reviews are mostly positive; however, even the positive reviews complain about the soundtrack drowning out the dialogue. That's a serious issue.

House of Cards: Season 3 - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-rayVideo on Demand
One of Netflix's most critically acclaimed shows. The third season was the weakest in terms of critical reception and it is no longer an award-worthy show. (That's not to say it won't win any awards, but I think they will be based in part on inertia.) Extras on the DVD are limited to just one featurette, while the Blu-ray also has an additional featurette. That's not a lot. It is still worth picking up, but it is not a Pick of the Week contender.

On a side note, according to Amazon.com, this release is in the top five new releases for the week. This will either be a surprise hit on the home market, or this is a really slow week.

Masterpiece: Poldark - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-ray
A British TV series that is based on the first two of the Poldark novels. The reviews are excellent and the extras are better than most British imports. The price-per-minute is higher than most TV on DVD releases, but that's to be expected for this type of film. It is still worth picking up for fans of the genre.

Mutant Planet: Season 2 - Buy from Amazon: DVD
All ten episodes from season two of Mutant Planet which is also known as Life Force. It looks at animals and their adaptations to their environments. The reviews are good, but I couldn't get to the review this weekend, so it is going to be a prize in a couple of weeks.

Slow West - Buy from Amazon: DVD or Blu-rayVideo on Demand
A Western shot in New Zealand about a boy from Scotland who travels to America to reunite with the woman he loves. The reviews were amazing, but its box office performance wasn't. Who was right, the critics or the moviegoers? Check out our review to find out.

TV on DVD Full Series Megasets - Buy from Amazon: Married... With Children Married... With Children is one of my favorite TV sitcoms of all time. However, I understood that the writers were making fun of Al Bundy and not holding him up as a hero. If you don't have the show on DVD yet, this is certainly worth picking up. It costs just $0.11 per episode and 90% of them have strong replay value.

Witches of East End: Season 2 - Buy from Amazon: DVD
The first season's reviews are good, but the second season only has one review on Rotten Tomatoes... and it is negative. Finally, there are just too many similar shows and even fans of the genre have many, many options.

Woman in Gold - ReviewsVideo on Demand
This feels like an Oscar-bait movie, except for its release date. Also, its reviews are barely 50% positive. However, films based on real-life stories with someone overcoming adversity do fit what the Oscars like most. Strangely, despite the mixed reviews, the film was able to thrive in limited release earning more than $30 million. Extras on the DVD include an audio commentary track, making of featurette, and a trailer for a related documentary. The Blu-ray also has a press conference. It's worth checking out, but I think a rental is the better option.

WWE: Monday Night War Volume 1: Shots Fired - Buy from Amazon: Blu-ray
Professional wrestling. I have nothing to say.

Yu-Gi-Oh Gx: Season 2 - Buy from Amazon: DVD
I got this as a prize for our weekly Box Office Prediction Contest; however, I double-booked the weekend by mistake. Look out for it as a prize in a couple of weeks... more or less.